Harry Leander Cummins (a.k.a. Grandpa Harry the Great), 84, a longtime resident of Oakdale and a dedicated family man, businessman, and community leader, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family.
Born in San Francisco on September 4, 1941, to Harry Vaughn Cummins and Dorothy Lenore Cummins, Harry grew up in the Central Valley eventually settling down in the Oakdale community with his wife and family.
A devoted husband, Harry shared 65 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Margo Thurlene Cummins. Together, they raised four children in the community he loved, passing on their shared values of hard work, family, and service to the community.
Harry was a man who led by example. He spent much of his career diligently working in the family business, Valley Asbestos Company, that was started by his father. There, he eventually became co-owner alongside his brother Dennis. Carrying on the spirit of family business, Harry and his son, Edward, launched Pacific Builders Hardware on the first business day of the year 1989, where Harry served as office manager until his retirement in 2005.
Throughout his life, Harry was also an active and integral member of the Oakdale community. He was deeply involved with Boy Scouts of America, Troop 43, the Oakdale Dinner Club and the Oakdale Saddle Club. The last of which he contributed to tirelessly for nearly 50 years by assisting in the annual production of the Oakdale Rodeo, a cornerstone of the town’s proud Western heritage. In 2021, and in recognition of his years of service to the Oakdale Saddle Club, Harry alongside his wife, Margo, were given the honor of serving as the Grand Marshals of Oakdale’s 69th PRCA Rodeo.
When Harry was not working or servicing his community, he enjoyed much of his time in nature. An avid outdoorsman, Harry cherished reading, gardening, fishing, hunting, and camping. His favorite destinations included the serene high-country beauty of Kennedy Meadows in the Sierra Nevadas and the remote, coastal wilderness of Ocean Falls, British Columbia.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Vaughn Cummins and Dorothy Lenore Cummins and his brother, Dennis Vaughn Cummins. He is survived by his wife, Margo Thurlene Cummins of Oakdale; his brother, Chester Lee (Diane) Cummins of Oakdale; his children, Edward Vaughn (Caryn) Cummins of Oakdale, Daniel Leander (Colleen) Cummins of Oakdale, Theodore Jasper Cummins of Modesto, and Joellene Marcella (Donal) Schwandt of Oakdale; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren with a sixth expected on May 1.
Harry will forever be remembered as a man who lived a life of quiet strength, unwavering loyalty, and generous service, leaving an enduring legacy in his family, his business endeavors, and the heart of Oakdale’s cowboy spirit. In honor of his memory, the family is hosting a Celebration of Life on March 8, 2026 from 3pm until 9pm at the Oakdale Rodeo Grounds. All who wish to pay their respects and raise a glass to the Great Harry Cummins are welcome to join.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Feb. 25, 2026
